Sony's
infrared remote does not work well outdoors or when the control is
not facing the camera. And it cannot trigger bracketed or
auto-HDR shots, and does not activate auto-focus. So I built a
simple adapter to let a mechanical cable release push the shutter
button.

Now I can operate the
camera remotely in all shooting modes. When close to the camera I
use a regular cable release. For longer distances I use a Kaiser
air-bulb release. The air cylinder has a five inch cable
extension that screws into the adapter.

On my pano pole, which
can extend to 15 feet, a length of self-coiling nylon tubing
connects the air bulb to the cylinder. The bulb is a sturdy
rubber one with an inlet valve, sold as a dust blower, that works
much better than the rather flimsy one that came with the air
cylinder.